The Anambra State Government has begun a crackdown on individuals who use children as syndicates to beg on the streets of Awka, the state capital.
In enforcement carried out on Tuesday, the state government, through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, arrested no fewer than 16 children who were begging for alms were arrested.
The Anambra State Government, through the state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, has begun cracking down on syndicates using children to beg for alms in Awka, the state capital and environs at the Aroma Junction in Awka and environs.
The arrest was carried out by the Awka Capital Development Authority in collaboration with the state’s Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare.
While speaking after the arrest, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ACTDA, Ossy Onuko, explained that two establishments had joined in order to maintain decent law in the state.
Speaking to journalists on the exercise on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Women’s Affairs and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, explained that operation will be carried out at every part of the state capital to ensure that all the children used as beggars on the streets are taken off.
The commissioners expressed deep concern for the children who are used as beggars instead of going to school, which is their fundamental human right; she noted that children are being denied these all-important rights. She disclosed that the governor has given approval for free and basic education in the state.
The children arrested, according to her, have been handed over to the State’s Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra Brigade, who trace their parents for a reunion.
She further stated that the situation has become a worrying one for the government of the state, she also disclosed that most of the children begging were not from Anambra state.
The situation, according to her, has called for strong decisions on the practice while the parents of the children will be interrogated to know their reasons for begging on the streets.
The commissioner also called on parents in the state to give birth to only the number of children they can cope with and care for in the face of harsh economic realities.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of ACTDA, Ossy Onuko, noted that the government had, on different occasions, warned beggars to stay away from the streets through messages sent through conventional and social media platforms.
He noted that the parents, guardians, and other individuals of such children will be identified and prosecuted according to the laws of the state. He further emphasized that if such kids are left on the streets, it won’t be possible to build the prosperous state that is always spoken about.
The operation had caused panic in the areas visited by the officials; some of the children took to their hills immediately after they saw the state officials enforcing the regulation. Some resisted, but they were overpowered by the security men.
